New Maidu Museum senior specialist outlines museum programs, site history and volunteer needs

A new senior museum specialist at the Maidu Museum and Historic Site briefed the Parks and Recreation Commission on Feb. 3 about the site’s history, programs and volunteer needs.

“My name is Alicia Martinez, and I am the new senior museum specialist at the Maidu Museum and Historic Site,” Martinez said, describing her background and the museum’s mission to “protect, preserve and interpret the cultural and natural heritage of the Maidu Historic Site and region.” She said the museum is located at 1970 Johnson Ranch Drive and that the on-site trail includes more than 500 ancient bedrock mortars and informational signage.

Martinez told commissioners the museum served more than 13,000 visitors in fiscal year 2024 and provided school programs to roughly 5,200 students, primarily third- and fourth-grade classes studying California history. The museum offers drop-in family tours on Saturdays, hands-on workshops such as beading and basket making, summer day camps, craft fairs, art exhibitions, evening “rock art mystery” tours, and special events including an annual spring event called Yeomen.

Martinez said the museum collaborates with a Native Advisory Committee on interpretive text, programming and exhibitions to ensure cultural and historical accuracy. She described volunteer requirements: docents commit to a minimum of three hours a month (with year-long commitments and a training process), and a restoration crew works weekly on land stewardship.

Martinez invited commissioners and the public to the Yeomen event on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; admission is free. The item was informational and required no commission action.